Hat protector



J.- E. HoovE HAT PROTECTOR April 20 14926.

Original Filed April 8, 1922 @am W v i object to provide a tention of the protector therein,

Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

` UNITED STATES A 1,581,445 Parrain#V oFFicE.

JOHN E. Hoovaa, or WASHINGTON, pisrnic'ror COLUMBIA.

HAT PROTECTOR.

Application led April 8, 1922, Serial No. 550,777. Renewed March' l15, 1926.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. HOOVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat Protectors, of which the folle-wing is a specification. y

The present invention relates generally to improvements in that class of inventions known as apparel and more particularly has reference to hat protectors. f

lThe invention has for its primary aim and device of the above character formed of water-proof material and designed Vfor removable engagement over a hat, preferably a straw, to protect the same in inclement weather, and while traveling on a train or riding in automobiles, or' the like, the device also being of such a nature that it may be placed and retained within the crown of the hat when not in use and without inconveniencing the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a protector to be worn over the hat and made of water-proof material, of such a nature as to permit rv the passage of air therethrough, so as to obviate any interference with the natural coolness of the hat when the protector is over the hat or when it is stored away within thevcrown.

As an additional and equally important object, the invention embraces the provision of a device of the above character wherein improved means is employed for supporting the crown of the protector, that is holding the same in an extended position, and in frictionally engaging the inner surface of the side of the crown of the hat for the resaid means being referably formed'from a single piece of resi ient and relatively stiff wire bent desirably into the form of an open oval shaped rin 1% is a more specific object of the inven-v tion t'o provide a device of the above character wherein the outer edges of the top crown piece of the protector and the upper edges of the side crown piece are connected together t0 form al casing, while the ends of the ring are formed with knobs to prevent injury to the protector orA hat.

Among the other aims and objects of the invention may berecited the provision of a device of the above mentioned character with a view to compactness and wherein the number of parts are'few, the construction simp le, the cost of production low, and the eliiciency high. i

Furtherobjects vas well as the nature, characteristicv features andv scope of this invention will be more readily understood from `thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying. drawings and pointed out in the claim forming a part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention applied about a hat,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, 7

Figure' is an 'enlarged' fragmentary transverse sectional detail through the crown of a hat, sho-wing the protectory arranged therein when not in use, and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the ring.

Similar characters of reference are einplo'yed. in all of the above described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now, more particularly, to the drawings there is Aprovided the improved protector generally designated by the numeral 1 for removable engagement with a hat 2. In the present instance the protector may be said to consist of a topV crown piece 3 connected with the upper edges of an annular sidel crown piece 4 in any suitable manner such as by stitches or the like 5, care being taken to form an annular casing or the like 6 at the time the parts are connected. This casing or'passageway 6 may be formed, however, in any suitable way, either entirely in the piece 3 or entirely in the piece 4, but it is desirable to have the passage adjacent the meeting edgesof the parts 3 and 4. Suitably connected to the lower edges o f the side crown piece is the annular brim piece 7 which with the top and side crown pieces is formed of suitable waterproof or water-proofed material of a iiexible nature, such as cotton or the like. I prefer to use water-proof fabrics treated in such a way that the cells of the fibres, through an electro-chemical reaction, are impregnated with a water-repellent substance, the spaces between the threads remaining unclogged so that air may readily pass through the fabric and ventilation be assured. Fabrics of this character and the process of making the same are disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent 933.861, September 14, 1907 and 1,208,400. December 12,` 1916. VMeans is also Provided for contracting the outer edges of the brim piece which may consist of an elastic band 8 retained within a casing 9 formed at the outer edges of saidbrim piece.

With a view toward providing the im proved supporting means for the crown piece 3 an open ovalvshaped expansible ring l0 is employed being preferably formed of relatively stift" Wire. 'Dheends of the ring desirably terminate in knobs 11 to prevent injfury to thel protector, Whenbeinggg.` inserted or When invthey protector itself?, subsequent to the insertion offthering into the casingv 6 through an opening 12 situated at any convenient point preferably on'the inside thereof. By this* arrangement the crown piecel 3 is held extended and liessmoothl-y o-ver the crown of the hat 2 while the side crown piece snugly enga-gesr the side of. the hat crown andC the casing: 9 with the band 8 therein enga-ges beneath theouter'edge of the hat brim; and" holds the b`rim` piece 7 thereover as indicated. When removed; the band icontracts andfdraws the brim piece 7 withinthe edgesV of' and beneath the crown piece 3; Subsequently the ring. 10 may be slightly contracted and the protector inverteda-nd inserted within the crown of the hat 2,4 softhat whenl released owing to the expansion of'- the ring, the protector isy fric-v tionally engaged with the` inner surface' of the side crown-piece of the'hat 2; as shown in Figure 3.A 'lfhe hat may be Worn in this manner wit-hout inconveniencing:theA wearer,

'In connect-ion with the ring, stated that should it lose some of its ex' as is apparent. The protector, being light in Weight, adds no appreciable weight to the hat, either whenin use `or when stored away in the crown of the hat, and being made ot water-proof porous material, does not inter-fer@ with the ventilation of the hat. it may bc pansibility it is only necessary to remove the same from the casing and spread the same, suchl as by drawing the wire through the hands. As a result,` when it is'replaccd, it maintains its usual effectiveness.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new and Vdesired tobe securedby Letters Patent is :-v Y

A" hat protector` including atop crown piece, a side crown piece having. its upper edge connected tothe outer edge of the top crown piece,an annular tubular-.casing arranged at the place of connection of said pieces `and provided with-a mouthyafresilient split ring arranged in said casing. and adapted to be removed from' the casing through said mouth, saidring having .knobs at its ends to prevent puncturing oi the casing while threading the ring into or ren'iovingthc same from said casing, afbrim piece connected to the lower edge of the side crown piece andv provided at. its edge With an elastic bandi In testimony whereof I aiix my signature. Y

JOI-IN E. Hoovnn. 

